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fat； far from your friends and your native land？ Say； noble
Eurypylus； will the Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in
check； or will they fall now before his spear？〃
Wounded Eurypylus made answer； 〃Noble Patroclus； there is no hope
left for the Achaeans but they will perish at their ships。 All
they that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded
at the hands of the Trojans； who are waxing stronger and
stronger。 But save me and take me to your ship； cut out the arrow
from my thigh； wash the black blood from off it with warm water；
and lay upon it those gracious herbs which； so they say； have
been shown you by Achilles； who was himself shown them by Chiron；
most righteous of all the centaurs。 For of the physicians
Podalirius and Machaon； I hear that the one is lying wounded in
his tent and is himself in need of healing； while the other is
fighting the Trojans upon the plain。〃
〃Hero Eurypylus；〃 replied the brave son of Menoetius； 〃how may
these things be？ What can I do？ I am on my way to bear a message
to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene； bulwark of the Achaeans；
but even so I will not be unmindful of your distress。〃
With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the
tent； and a servant； when he saw him； spread bullock…skins on the
ground for him to lie on。 He laid him at full length and cut out
the sharp arrow from his thigh； he washed the black blood from
the wound with warm water； he then crushed a bitter herb； rubbing
it between his hands； and spread it upon the wound； this was a
virtuous herb which killed all pain； so the wound presently dried
and the blood left off flowing。
BOOK XII
The Trojans and their allies break the wall； led on by Hector。
SO THE son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus
within the tent； but the Argives and Trojans still fought
desperately； nor were the trench and the high wall above it； to
keep the Trojans in check longer。 They had built it to protect
their ships； and had dug the trench all round it that it might
safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had
taken； but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods。 It had
been built without the consent of the immortals； and therefore it
did not last。 So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his
anger； and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken； the
great wall of the Achaeans stood firm； but when the bravest of
the Trojans were no more； and many also of the Argives； though
some were yet left alivewhen； moreover； the city was sacked in
the tenth year； and the Argives had gone back with their ships to
their own countrythen Neptune and Apollo took counsel to
destroy the wall； and they turned on to it the streams of all the
rivers from Mount Ida into the sea； Rhesus； Heptaporus； Caresus；
Rhodius； Grenicus； Aesopus； and goodly Scamander； with Simois；
where many a shield and helm had fallen； and many a hero of the
race of demigods had bitten the dust。 Phoebus Apollo turned the
mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine
days against the wall； while Jove rained the whole time that he
might wash it sooner into the sea。 Neptune himself； trident in
hand； surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the
foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with
so much toil； he made all level by the mighty stream of the
Hellespont； and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a
great beach of sand over the place where it had been。 This done
he turned the rivers back into their old courses。
This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time； but as
yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its
timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them。 The Argives；
cowed by the scourge of Jove； were hemmed in at their ships in
fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout； who as heretofore
fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind。 As a lion or wild
boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him； while
these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face
himhis courage is all undaunted； but his high spirit will be
the death of him； many a time does he charge at his pursuers to
scatter them； and they fall back as often as he does soeven so
did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men； and
cheering them on to cross the trench。
But the horses dared not do so； and stood neighing upon its
brink； for the width frightened them。 They could neither jump it
nor cross it； for it had overhanging banks all round upon either
side； above which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of
the Achaeans had planted so close and strong as a defence against
all who would assail it； a horse； therefore； could not get into
it and draw his chariot after him； but those who were on foot
kept trying their very utmost。 Then Polydamas went up to Hector
and said； 〃Hector； and you other captains of the Trojans and
allies； it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across
the trench； it will be very hard to cross； for it is full of
sharp stakes； and beyond these there is the wall。 Our horses
therefore cannot get down into it； and would be of no use if they
did； moreover it is a narrow place and we should e to harm。
If； indeed； great Jove is minded to help the Trojans； and in his
anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans； I would myself gladly
see them perish now and here far from Argos； but if they should
rally and we are driven back from the ships pell…mell into the
trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to
tell the tale。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； let our
squires hold our horses by the trench； but let us follow Hector
in a body on foot； clad in full armour； and if the day of their
doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us。〃
Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector； who sprang in
full armour to the ground； and all the other Trojans； when they
saw him do so； also left their chariots。 Each man then gave his
horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for
him at the trench。 Then they formed themselves into panies；
made themselves ready； and in five bodies followed their leaders。
Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and
most in number； and the most determined to break through the wall
and fight at the ships。 Cebriones was also joined with them as
third in mand； for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a
less valiant soldier。 The next pany was led by Paris；
Alcathous； and Agenor； the third by Helenus and Deiphobus； two
sons of Priam； and with them was the hero AsiusAsius； the son
of Hyrtacus； whose great black horses of the breed that es
from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe。 Aeneas； the
valiant son of Anchises； led the fourth； he and the two sons of
Antenor； Archelochus and Acamas； men well versed in all the arts
of war。 Sarpedon was captain over the allies； and took with him
Glaucus and Asteropaeus whom he deemed most valiant after
himselffor he was far the best man of them all。 These helped to
array one another in their ox…hide shields； and then charged
straight at the Danaans； for they felt sure that they would not
hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the
ships。
The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel
of Polydamas but Asius； son of Hyrtacus； would not leave his
horses and his esquire behind him； in his foolhardiness he took
them on with him towards the ships； nor did he fail to e by
his end in consequence。 Nevermore was he to return to wind…beaten
Ilius； exulting in his chariot and his horses； ere he could do
so； death of ill…omened name had overshadowed him and he had
fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion。 He
had driven towards the left wing of the ships； by which way the
Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the
plain。 Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors
opened wide； and the great bar downfor the gatemen kept them
open so as to let those of their rades enter who might be
flying towards the ships。 Hither of set purpose did he direct his
horses； and his men followed him with